Ana focussed on second round match

Despite dropping only one game in their only previous meeting, Ana says she won’t be taking Maria Vento-Kabchi lightly. Ana faces her in round two after a solid 7-6, 6-3 win over Lindsay Lee-Waters.

“I played very good that match,” said Ana about her 6-1, 6-0 victory over the 72nd-ranked Venezuelan. “I know her a little bit. I have to concentrate on my footwork in order to get into the court and make the game. I mustn’t let her do that. Every opponent, if you let them play they might be dangerous.”

Ana wasn’t quite on her game in the first round and admits she was tentative because of her the pectoral muscle injury she sustained in Toronto two weeks ago. “I was afraid of forcing too much because of my shoulder so I don’t think my serve worked too well,” she said. “Now I know that I can play a match without any problems, so I’m really looking forward to the next match.”

The injury also affected Ana’s preparation. She said: “The first few days I had off so I started slowly. Definitely I was concerned about that a little because I couldn’t practice 100% or do all the things I wanted to do to prepare for the tournament.”

Though she is not feeling the effects of the ailment physically, she is careful not to aggravate her shoulder and will be taking it easy in practice today. “It is how it is,” she said. “I just have to concentrate on my tennis. I played some good tennis [against Lee-Waters] and I can do that again.”

Off-court Ana is enjoying her time in New York. She attended the Women’s Tennis Association players’ party on Friday and is planning on going to see the Phantom of the Opera musical once the tournament is over.

“I’m really enjoy my time here,” said Ana, who is in New York with her mother, Dragana. “I think it’s one of the best events.”